📖

The New Girl: Understanding Friendship

Bridge to Terabithia - Friendship and Imagination

Day 37of 180
Week 8of 36
30Minutes
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Learning Objectives

1

Analyze character relationships in Bridge to Terabithia

2

Understand how first impressions can be misleading

3

Explore the biblical concept of friendship

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)

Demonstrates true friendship that transcends initial differences

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bridge to Terabithia book
  • Reading journals
  • Colored pencils
  • Character relationship map worksheet

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Begin by asking students to share a time when they made a friend unexpectedly. Discuss how first impressions can be different from reality.

💭 Review Question: Have you ever misjudged someone before getting to know them?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explore Chapter 3 of Bridge to Terabithia, focusing on Leslie's introduction and her interaction with Jess. Highlight how their differences become a strength in their friendship.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Initial perceptions of Leslie by classmates and Jess
  • Leslie's unique personality and creativity
  • How true friendship looks past external differences
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Why might Jess and Leslie feel like outsiders?
  • How does Leslie challenge Jess's existing worldview?
  • What makes a true friendship special?
3Activity: Friendship Relationship Map (10 min)
hands-on

Students create a visual map showing Jess and Leslie's developing friendship, using symbols and colors to represent their connections.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw Jess and Leslie in the center of a large paper
  2. Use different colors to represent their unique qualities
  3. Draw lines connecting their shared interests and differences
  4. Write specific examples from the text that show their friendship
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-drawn template with guidance

Challenge: Add additional characters and their relationships

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on how friendships can help us grow and see the world differently.

📝 Review Questions:
  • What have you learned about friendship today?
  • How can we be more open to people who seem different from us?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the gift of friendship. Help us to see others the way You see them and to love without judgment.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore how Jess and Leslie create their imaginary kingdom, Terabithia

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Friend Circle: Students form a circle and toss a soft ball, repeating the verse each time

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson focuses on understanding complex friendships and looking beyond surface-level differences.

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage empathy and open-mindedness
  • Discuss healthy friendship characteristics
  • Help children recognize value in diverse relationships
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might struggle with understanding why Jess and Leslie are initially considered 'different'

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Compassionate understanding of characters' perspectives

Extension Activities

  • Write a journal entry from Leslie's perspective
  • Research famous friendships that changed history
  • Create a friendship code of kindness

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 38Back to Literature